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Friday, November 30, 2012

Regiments garrisoned at Fort Napier Natal 1843-1914

In August 1843 two companies of the 45th Regiment, 1st Nottingham (Sherwood Foresters), with fifteen engineers and several artillery men marched the 52 miles from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in four days. On arrival they occupied a hill overlooking the town and this site was chosen for the construction of a fort to be named Fort Napier in honour of Sir George Napier, Military Governor and Governor of the Cape.

The officer in charge of the garrison was Major Thomas Charlton Smith who had, with his troops, been besieged at Durban in 1842. In 1843 a military cemetery was laid out: some graves date from 1846. Imperial troops occupied Fort Napier from 1843 to 1914, among them some famous regiments.

If it is evidence you need to fill the gap at Fort Napier, I offer this:
21 September 1868: George William Bathe (GWB) enlisted as private No 1711 in 2nd Battalion, 20th Regiment (East Devonshire) at Pietermaritzburg, Natal.

3 March 1869: letter from GWB 2nd/20th Regt, Fort Napier

21 Nov 1869: letter from GWB 2nd/20th Regt, Fort Napier

2 Aug 1870: letter from Edgell in Natal “I saw Bathe a month since. He has gone with the Regt to the Mauritius.”

21 April 1871: letter from Edgell in Natal “I have heard from Bathe at the Cape.”